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La Villita, Spanish Village in» which £xiiiBy W. N. BEARD715 Jones St., Port Worth, Texas.(Corvrislit, 1941, by the Southwest Magazine Co.) -(HE city of Kan Antonio is restor-■ Jng the little Spanish village of La Villita, situated on the east bank of the San Antonio river, within a few blocks of the downtown district.Restoration plans will be architectural and cultural with n bit of the modern in plumbing and lighting.Founded by the Spaniards in 1722, La Villita buildings show ravages of time, yet the buildings retain much of the Spanish colonial, Texas colonial,French and German immigration.O’Neil Ford, supervising architect of the project, says: “These houses .are not a self-conscious architecture.They were built by men seeking a new and a permanent home in a new and primitive land; they are eleme n t a 1structures, providing a minimum of comfort and of shelter.”Long before white men came to Texas La Villita was an Indian village. Writings of Cabeza de Vaea, the first white man to explore Texas, indicate that he visited La Villita in 1536. It was then a village of the Conhuiltecans Indians.Robert T. Hill, Texas historian, says “La Villita is the oldest identified village within the present limits of theUnited States.”Villita, therefore, is of great age and historical importance to Texas and the Southwest. Over it has flown six flags —France, Spain, Mexico, Republic ofTexas,' the Confederate States and the United States.Drama of Stirring EventsStrolling caballeros and s^noritagsing songs of their native land.A symbol of old and new world cultures/ this little town has passed through a drama of stirring events. Through the centuries it has survived Indian raids, rebellions, epidemics, famines, wars, and the rise and fallof governments. Its homes have entertained Spanish viceroys, Franciscan padres, con-quistadores, cavaliers, explorers and men prominent in the affairs of the Texas Republic. Deaf Smith, San Jacinto Battle scout, lived there with his young bride. Jack Hays, Indian fighter and ranger captain, General Edward Burleson and James Bowie were residents of La Villita. General Cos, brother-in-law of Santa Anna, lived for several years in the house at 513 Villita street. It was in this low, narrow and. thick-walled house that Cos, December 11, 1835, surrendered his army to General Burleson after the Battle of San Antonio. Terms of surrender provided for withdrawal of the' Mexican army from Texas.La Villita is linked inseparably with the mission San Antonio de Valero, built in 1718, and later known as the Alamo. Four years after the Alamo was built Villita became a residential section of San Antonio. The thick walls of the old Spanish buildings grimly remind that they were built for protection. against Indian attacks. SanitAntonio was repeatedly attacked by bands of Apaches and Comanehes at intervals over a period of 125 years.nance, as adopted by the City Comma-sion, is as follows:Mixture of RacesAs time went on the colonization of Texas brought to La Villita a mixture of races. In 1840 came German immigrants sponsored by Count Salms-Braunfels, founder of New Braunfels. Some of the German families settled in and around Villita. In consequence a few of the Spanish buildings took on a Teutonic character as prim little gardens replaced the tropic floriculture of old patios. Still other racial elements came—French and“Recreating the Uttl© Spanish VillageFor the Promotion of Understanding andPeace between the Ammcan NataonsTo preserve Spanish and Southwestern Culture, To foster Arts ana Crafts.An Expression of Pioneer LifeRestored Villita, according to the commission, -is to have a definite plan, both as to physical layout and structural purpose. It shall be properly landscaped with Texas trees, shrubs and flowers and be a living example oi early day Texas architecture, an ex-Polish — in the 1850’s and 1860’s.By 1875 San Antonio’s population was predominantly Anglo-American. An exclusive residential section grew up around La Villita,. threa tening to wipe it out. But against this modern • gncroachment Villita kept its Latin atmosp h e r e.Enough of the old Spanish buildings remain today to form a nucleus for restoring in wholeand in part the Villita of early days. This work, initiated_ by Mayor Maury Maverick, is now going on under joint financial support of the NYA and the city of San Antonio. The Villita ordi-which NYA boys have produced some* fine specimens of baked pottery, tili^ and hooked rugs. A modern building' will be added for stonng^ntfffg exhibiting relics. .gmPlans also- include a rock wall aroundf the entire area, an inner court or plaza/d fountains, acequias and other quaint shrubs and flowers. The inner courpkwill represent a bit of old Mexico. HerelSiMexican food will be served while stroll#! Ing caballeros and senoritas, wearing®! gay costumes, sing songs of their .n^ggtive land. • + y/®1Sponsors of the Villita project de^gserve commendable mention for restor#!S ing this old hist«jical landmark^-vSS3SCommer c i a I is m#gOld La Villita, San Antonio, founded by Spaniards in 1722.pression of pioneer life as lived by our forefathers. Several of the restored buildings have art and craft shops inhas already de/C stroyed too many-|| Texas landmark|ifS At one time w iklt;e|l|j ground on whi^ll stands the Alajn£p| was about sold and tbelli Alamo buil d i torn down. cradle of .liberty wasby the Daughters/®of the Confederal! acy who bought the land and ing and made a shrine dedicated'# to Texas valor afi$;vf patriotism and to the 1S8 brave 'men#! who lost their lives defending it agamsfv'i an army of 6,000 Mexicans.Tr»7 7TTrk*rn/iTin
Newspaper Details
Mexia Weekly Herald
Mexia, Texas, US
Fri, Jun 13, 1941
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Graduate D.
USA 11 Sep 2022
Other Publications Near Mexia, Texas
Mexia Weekly Herald
Mexia State Herald
Mexia Weekly Herald and Mexia Evening News
Mexia Evening News
Mexia Daily News
